Media release
7 January 2008
President of the Japan Whaling Association responds to Australia
On December 19, 2007 Australia's Minister for Foreign Affairs the Honourable Stephen Smith issued a joint media release with the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts, Mr. Peter Garrett. The release states that "Australia strongly believes that there is no credible scientific justification for the hunting of whales and is opposed to all commercial and 'scientific' whaling" and notes that "the Australian Government will step up efforts to end this senseless and brutal practice, using a range of diplomatic, legal and monitoring and surveillance initiatives" that "the Government is giving serious consideration to a range of options for international legal action against Japan" and that "the Government will develop its own proposal for improving and modernising the IWC which will include closing the loophole that allows for scientific whaling. "
In the proper context of the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling (ICRW) and the International Whaling Commmission (IWC) these comments of the Government of Australia are provocative and absurd. The fact is that the ICRW is about properly managing the whaling industry by regulating catch quotas at levels so that whale stocks will not be diminished. The Convention is not about protecting all whales irrespective of their abundance.
Further, the fact that Australia was a whaling country when it agreed to and signed the ICRW and subsequently changed its postion to anti-whaling following the closure of its industry in the 1970s does not change the Convention. If Australia can no longer agree to the Convention it should withdraw rather than subvert its purpose. Smith and Garrett can ignore these facts but they cannot change them.
Australia together with other anti-whaling members of the IWC have sacrificed the principles of science-based management and sustainable use that are the world standard (and supported by Australia in other international fora and for the management of their own resources) as a political expediency to satisfy the interests of non-government organizations. This has made the IWC dysfunctional and threatens much-needed international cooperation required to properly manage and conserve all marine resources. It is of considerable concern therefore that Australia's stepped up efforts to end commercial and scientific whaling will undermine the work of the current Chairman (William Hogarth of the US) of the IWC to resolve the dysfunctional nature of the organization and return it to its proper functioning as a resource management organization.
Japan's whaling is not "senseless and brutal". Neither is it illegal in any way. The most recent review of Japan's research whaling program in the Antarctic by the IWC's Scientific Committee in December 2006 concluded that "the dataset provides a valuable resource to allow investigation of some aspects of the role of whales within the marine ecosystem and that this has the potential to make an important contribution to the Scientific Committee's work in this regard as well as the work of other relevant bodies such as the Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources". The Scientific Committee also agreed to its earlier (1997) conclusion that the results from the research program "have the potential to improve management of minke whales in the Southern Hemisphere".
The suggestion of Smith and Garrett that somehow Japan's whale research program is a violation of international law and that Japan is not acting in accordance with its international treaty obligations is totally without foundation. Article VIII of the ICRW unequivocally provides the right of members of the IWC to kill whales for research purposes and further states that "the killing, taking, and treating of whales in accordance with the provisions of this Article shall be exempt from the operation of this Convention." Conversely, the fact that the Government of Australia has publicly stated that it no longer accepts the terms of the ICRW and yet continues to participate in the IWC is a self indictment that it has failed to meet its legal obligation to interpret and implement its treaty obligations in good faith.
Finally, Smith and Garrett note that "Australia values its extensive and mutually beneficial relationship with Japan" and that "as in any close relationship there are some issues on which we cannot agree". In the face of this disagreement on whaling, Australia's determination "to play a leading role in international efforts to stop Japan's whaling practices" is arrogant and an insult to Japanese people and their culture. A more constructive approach with less media hype is needed.
Keiichi NAKAJIMA
President
Japan Whaling Association
Japan Whaling Association:
http://www.whaling.jp/english/release/080107.html
Friday, 11 January 2008
"Australia's health system third best" - did the study really say that?
This is what News.com.au reported last Wednesday.
"AUSTRALIA'S healthcare system may come in for constant criticism, but compared to most other countries, it is one of the best.
Australia came third in a list of 19 industrialised countries surveyed for their ability to provide timely and effective healthcare to its citizens."
News.com.au full article:
http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,23026791-23109,00.html
http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,23026791-23109,00.html
Here's an abstract of the study cited in the article.
"Measuring The Health Of Nations: Updating An Earlier Analysis
We compared trends in deaths considered amenable to health care before age seventy-five between 1997–98 and 2002–03 in the United States and in eighteen other industrialized countries. Such deaths account, on average, for 23 percent of total mortality under age seventy-five among males and 32 percent among females. The decline in amenable mortality in all countries averaged 16 percent over this period. The United States was an outlier, with a decline of only 4 percent. If the United States could reduce amenable mortality to the average rate achieved in the three top-performing countries, there would have been 101,000 fewer deaths per year by the end of the study period."
Health Affairs: the policy journal of the health sphere:
No, Australia was not awarded a gong for having one of the best healthcare systems in the world.
It merely has less people dying of treatable medical conditions than some other industrialised nations.
Inequity in public health care provision or limited access to private medical services is another matter entirely. As is quality of life for those with treatable illness or disease.
Regional and rural Australia, which always seems to be fighting to keep even minimum hospital and medical services alive in local towns, would recognise the difference in emphasis between these two reports on the study.
Here on the NSW North Coast we may not actually die in large numbers from treatable medical conditions, but that doesn't mean that we receive the same level of healthcare as metropolitan areas or that treatment outcomes always favourably compare with that of our city cousins.
Help Wanted: no bleedin' hearts, trade unionists or furriners need apply
It seems that former Prime Minister John Howard is availing himself of part of his 'retirement' package by advertising for a research assistant cum personal adviser.
This is a taxpayer-funded position to the tune of between $62,124 and $74,516 a year according to newspaper reports.
Apparently the hired staffer will assist with preparation for his Washington trip in March.
Yeah, like I really want my taxes to go towards helping Howard strut the world stage.
Australia sacked you, John. So for goodness sake do us all a favour, and just fade away into a very private and inexpensive twilight.
Thursday, 10 January 2008
John Howard's death by a thousand cuts in 2008
John Winston Howard always appeared so sure that he would leave an enduring legacy.
So it must flick him on the raw every time the Rudd Government announces that it is looking to cut into this 'legacy'.
Now one of his pet jingoistic policies, a national history syllabus modelled on his own personal values and beliefs, is under threat.
"THE Rudd Government is expected to scrap plans to force the states to introduce compulsory Australian history classes in years 9 and 10 from next year.
The new Government is also expected to dump a controversial model Australian history syllabus released by former prime minister John Howard on the eve of the election, after it was criticised for being overly nationalistic and "barely teachable".
A spokeswoman for Education Minister Julia Gillard has told The Age that although history would be a compulsory component of the national curriculum for parts of the secondary school years, the new Government would work collaboratively with states and territories, rather than impose things on them."
In The Age today:
The Rudd Government cannot in itself lead us back from the xenophobic abyss towards which Howard was urging Australia - but it is so good to see that it is trying.
Three political halleluiahs and a vote for me
I must admit that, apart from watching the SBS TV delayed telecast of US public broadcasting nightly news, I'm not closely following the Democrat and Republican presidential nomination races that are in progress right now.
What I do see in the news and current affairs programs has me wondering.
It may be that American and Australian media just go for theatrical bytes when selecting film clips to accompany news stories, otherwise it is hard to explain the almost total lack of broad policy articulated by these presidential hopefuls.
Vagueness appears to be the order of the day.
Most of their public appearances look and sound more like Christian revival meetings than political rallies.
I keep expecting a robed choir to break into a hymn behind each candidate.
Perhaps Obama, Clinton, McCain, Romney, Huckabee etc., should look at what recently happened to an Australian prime minister who relied on repetitious, 'aspirational' speeches.
He lost.
Vale George Moore, Australian jockey
Dear George,
I was an infrequent racegoer in my youth and always cautious with my bet.
Like most track novices I had a theory about winners - ears pricked forward and stepping out calmly in the saddling paddock.
I would have been wrong more times than I was right with that yardstick.
However, most of my bets were on any horse which had Tommy Smith as trainer and George Moore as jockey.
Always for a win or a place, you never failed me and I went home with extra coins jiggling in my pocket.
I'm sorry you're gone, George. You'll always remain a fond memory.
Good on ya mate,
Pete
Wednesday, 9 January 2008
Rudd Government looking to thwart Howard's attempt to empty kitty ahead of 2007 federal election
After almost eleven years in office it was becoming apparent that the complaisant former Howard Government had allowed substantial bureaucratic inefficiencies to flourish
However, when John Howard began to promise money like a drunken sailor ahead of the 24 November 2007 federal election, I suspected that he might also be attempting to reduce government coffers just in case the Coalition was voted out of office. So I was rather glad to see the following.
Mr Tanner has told Sky News he would prefer not to disrupt contracts that are already under way.
"In many cases, decisions that were made just prior to the election campaign have not been implemented," he said.
"They have not actually been actioned. Contracts haven't been signed, money hasn't gone out the door.
"That does mean that it's in some respects less difficult to focus on those kind of commitments than those things that are already the subject of existing contracts."
Mr Tanner says spending cuts are needed to put downward pressure on interest rates.
"We are in a tough environment. Inflation is getting beyond the 3 per cent level, that is the outer limit of the Reserve Bank zone," he said."
ABC News report:
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/01/07/2133067.htm?section=australia
Good move, Minister Tanner. Time to cull the former Howard Government's attempt at pork barrelling and rein in an unwieldy and fiscally inefficient bureaucracy.
Your own party's election promises are going to be hard enough to fund as it is, in light of sustained inflationary pressures .
The Australian article today:
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,23015322-5013871,00.html
However, when John Howard began to promise money like a drunken sailor ahead of the 24 November 2007 federal election, I suspected that he might also be attempting to reduce government coffers just in case the Coalition was voted out of office. So I was rather glad to see the following.
"Federal Finance Minister Lindsay Tanner says the Howard Government's pre-election promises will be the first to be cut under moves to slash Government spending.
Bureaucrats have been asked to start identifying the former government's commitments in a bid to cut billions of dollars in spending ahead of the May budget.Mr Tanner has told Sky News he would prefer not to disrupt contracts that are already under way.
"In many cases, decisions that were made just prior to the election campaign have not been implemented," he said.
"They have not actually been actioned. Contracts haven't been signed, money hasn't gone out the door.
"That does mean that it's in some respects less difficult to focus on those kind of commitments than those things that are already the subject of existing contracts."
Mr Tanner says spending cuts are needed to put downward pressure on interest rates.
"We are in a tough environment. Inflation is getting beyond the 3 per cent level, that is the outer limit of the Reserve Bank zone," he said."
ABC News report:
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/01/07/2133067.htm?section=australia
Good move, Minister Tanner. Time to cull the former Howard Government's attempt at pork barrelling and rein in an unwieldy and fiscally inefficient bureaucracy.
Your own party's election promises are going to be hard enough to fund as it is, in light of sustained inflationary pressures .
The Australian article today:
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,23015322-5013871,00.html
It's still a case of "Brendan who?"
Google Trends results for the last 30 days still show that very few people are bothering to search the internet for information about Federal Opposition Leader Brendan Nelson in comparison to Prime Minister Kevin Rudd.
Rather a poor showing for a new Liberal Party leader. A low profile before he became leader and a continuing low profile since.
Will Australia finally start to care once the new parliamentary term begins?
Google Trends result:
Winners and grinners on the NSW North Coast
Because many of us are a little wet and muddy right now as the North Coast flood plains do their thing, I thought we might look back at some of the North Coast's artistic achievers to cheer ourselves up.
North Coast artist Patricia Piccinini's work "Thicker than water". Photograph at http://www.artsnorthernrivers.com.au/ 
Ross Tamlin's "Beached Cod". Ross is a past winner in the Bentley Art Show. Photograph at http://www.visualartsnetwork.com.au/
North Coast artist Patricia Piccinini's work "Thicker than water". Photograph at http://www.artsnorthernrivers.com.au/ 
"Mapping Ulgundahi" by Frances Belle Parker, winner of the ABC North Coast ArtsNest 2007 Award.
Photograph at http://www.abc.net.au/
Ross Tamlin's "Beached Cod". Ross is a past winner in the Bentley Art Show. Photograph at http://www.visualartsnetwork.com.au/
Debrah Novak's "Cygnets during a performance of Swan Lake". Debrah has won numerous photography awards.
Photograph at http://www.arthouseaustralia.com.au/
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